[hackerspaces] RANT!: SO VERY frustrated with lack of local activity :( Warning: some negative energy present - sorry

[Will Bradley]

When you do need to meet, discuss, or think, set a time limit beforehand
and adhere to it mercilessly.
On Nov 25, 2011 4:51 PM, "Eric Stein" <toba at des.truct.org> wrote:

> **
>
> I agree. The best way to solve this problem is to accept help on your
> priojects willingly, help anyone who asks, and last but not least keep
> hacking yourself! If you fall the the same inaction you protest against,
> you lose the hacking high ground :)
>
> Eric
>
> ----- Original message -----
> > I skipped the last few paragraphs, apologies, but I think I have some
> > advice for ya.
> >
> > At HeatSync we have seen similar issues. Lots of talk, very little
> > action. Creative people have new ideas every second and only a small
> > percent of these ideas are worthy of putting muscle behind. But if
> > wishes were horses, we'd all be cowboys. This isn't a problem per se;
> > creativity is great. But execution is 1% inspiration and 99%
> > perspiration, right? Getting real work done is the core purpose of a
> > creative space. Have those inspiring conversations at a coffee shop, and
> > come to the space to do the actual work of creating.
> >
> > This is actually a main goal of our board this year; refocusing on
> > creating stuff instead of sitting around talking or surfing the web.
> > We're not in a dire situation like you, but it's still (and probably
> > always will be) a problem.
> >
> > Here's what we did: first, show up and work on stuff. Bring your
> projects
> > and do them yourself. Invite people to help, or to work on their own
> > stuff, but don't get distracted by conversation or brainstorming or
> > "collaboration" -- you're at a workshop, get the work done, have
> > discussions elsewhere even if it means outside the front door.
> >
> > But the most important rule is show up, on a regular publicized basis,
> > and really work on stuff. You hardly need marketing if you do this; if
> > you don't do it, all the marketing in the world won't save you. If you
> > can only make it once a month, or once a week, fine! But make sure those
> > dates are scheduled regularly, and that you show up, and that you work
> > on stuff.
> >
> > Don't have discussions about what you should or shouldn't be making.
> > Don't interrupt others and tell them to get working instead of talking.
> > Be positive, say nothing within the walls of the space if you have to,
> > and work. Two things you're allowed to say are "hey would you like to
> > help me with <specific, simple task>?" and "hi! What are you working on?
> > ...cool, can I help? Is there something we can do right now?" --
> > remember, discussion is not work. It's useful, but you don't need a
> > hackerspace to discuss things.
> >
> > Doing this is a form of leading by example and has helped the space
> > immensely (or at least helped us core members stay sane) -- even when we
> > should be writing emails or talking to people, we've tried to work on
> our
> > own projects instead. Putting on headphones if needed. This gets
> momentum
> > going. Doing something positive besides bitch about the lack of momentum
> > is also a great way of keeping a necessary positive vibe around the
> > place.
> >
> > Finally, chances are your space has lots of tables and chairs. I'm
> toying
> > with the idea of eliminating these at the lab, making them stand-up
> desks
> > which are healthier anyway and it's hard to be lazy when you're standing
> > up at a workbench. They're normally one-sided, too, so your friends
> > aren't staring you in the face trying to show you a funny video. Just an
> > idea which I'm sure would go over like a lead balloon even in our space
> > but might be relevant. We have plenty of chairs though and whenever we
> > break them out the whole place becomes a classroom or coffee shop and
> > the vibe changes for the worse. A hackerspace vibe really centers around
> > a workbench, I think.
> >
> > These are just my musings and I look forward to hearing other (positive
> > attitude!) suggestions.
> > On Nov 25, 2011 3:12 PM, "Frustrated fo sho ???"
> > <frustratedfosho at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I take part on this list some with another name - but -
> > > Posting this anonymously as much as I can or care to... didn't proxy
> so
> > > please don't IP me if that's avail through the registration.
> > > I even made a separate email account to bring this up and seek advice
> > > so that it's not too apparent where I am from.  I am in a relatively
> > > small but major city in the united states o'merica.
> > > Perhaps more than advice - I just need to vent/discuss/and hear others
> > > stories of success out of dwindling interest or just similar
> > > frustrations.
> > >
> > > Here's the bit - I found out about hackerspaces 2 years ago now from
> an
> > > old friend that looked me up just to tell me about the concept and the
> > > local one that he had just discovered - he never joined - saw the
> > > writing on the wall but me... I'm hopeful, or was at least for a
> while.
> > >
> > > SO excited!  WOW!  For soooo long I had needed something like this to
> > > collaborate - relate - and incubate.
> > >
> > > I showed up with bells on - was waiting for the next meeting like it
> > > was Xmas morning for a 10 year old.
> > > Saw someone there even from 2600 back in the day (90's) - he had just
> > > heard about it too!
> > >
> > > It was neat... lots of fun!    Everyone was friendly and seemingly
> > > interested in what I do and my crazy mad science stuff... in this area
> > > that is really a treat!
> > > I brought in a robot I was working on - old science equipment w nixie
> > > displays - some professional VR equipment - even a baby food sized jar
> > > 1/4 full of pure cesium that I offered to have a cesium explosion
> > > party and film with my ultra slow mo camera!  that's about half a
> > > grand$$$ of cesium :/ minimum!
> > > Make a long story short... I became more and more frustrated and
> > > disappointed with all of the talking, meetings, and further dragging
> > > bootay and never really doing anything of much.
> > > Over and over I've had hopes of new ideas and projects that are
> > > discussed, sometimes met upon, but never (or usually never) executed.
> > >  It really seems like 95% of everything was about having meetings -
> > > kinda like playing hackerspace make believe... might as well get out
> > > the stuffed animals and put meters and irons in their paws.
> > >
> > > Over time the group has dwindled - membership has dropped from the
> > > incubation period - and many people have come to visit/check out but
> > > quickly leave (and I suspect snickering) and never shown up again!
> > > YUG!      I may actually be the last member that joined and is still
> > > around!- As in noone has joined since I had! well that I know of.
> > > In fact - I'm not sure there are any members other than myself that
> > > were not in the original gang to put it together!
> > >
> > >
> > > So with any group there is going to be some people more
> > > interested/able/have time/active than others...  but I can't
> > > personally / don't personally have any interest of herding cats that
> > > don't have the time/delusion/etc.  Don't get me wrong... good people
> > > here and some have been active a little(as much as they could) but all
> > > but one are gone/moved and the one left seems to think it's all a joke
> > > now or seems uninterested too.
> > > I think I became a bit unpopular for a while with some when I started
> > > to voice my "poop or get off the pot" attitude after a year or so of
> > > frustration.
> > > When I get to the point that I want to say something... let's just say
> > > I believe in open source honesty - I don't believe in beating around
> > > the bush too    much... and admittedly can sometimes be a bit harsh to
> > > make sure I'm heard when I'm not.  I know when to give up.. but maybe
> > > hold on a tiny bit longer than I should.
> > >
> > >
> > > SO many people have shown interest in the past but if they showed up
> > > they never showed up agian-
> > > I've spent ALOT of time in this 'space the last 2 months - and NOT
> ONCE
> > > HAS ANOTHER SOUL SHOWED UP!  I'm talking some 12-14 hour days here.
> > > And I'm also talking 5 days a week!
> > > I've meet multiple people around town that have said they've "heard of
> > > X hackerspace in town" with a kind of a snickering tone.
> > > People have shown up from out of town even (from other hackerspaces)
> > > when there should be a regularly scheduled meeting that is publicized
> > > - and I feel bad that they wasted their time while in town because
> > > there is noone around!  I'm the one that finds the note on the door -
> > > they end up talking to the owner of the building and I'm sure he says
> > > "oh they're never there... I don't know why they're wasting their
> > > time." I send a message out to others in the group that we missed a
> > > fellow hackspace person and noone seems to care.
> > > HOW EMBARRASSING!
> > > I mean this is an awesome fun crazy city to visit... I can't imagine
> > > how disappointed I'd be if I made time while here to visit and noone
> > > was around when their website says they would be.  I mean... regular
> > > scheduled meeting and NOONE is there!?!?!?!  I'd be pretty pissed if I
> > > knew that they just slack hardcore and inconsiderately fail to update
> > > their website - HOW RUDE!
> > >
> > > I once read Bre's (makerbot) tweets (or something... forgot where the
> > > comment was) that he was hoping to visit our group while in town but
> > > was sick and couldn't - Honestly I was thankful for him.
> > >
> > > I've tried to come up with projects or organize stuff... even got some
> > > excitement and interest - but again - once it's time to do anything -
> > > NOTHING happens!
> > > What should I do?  Start my own group?
> > > I've thought about it -
> > > I've registered a site and all...
> > > I have a few people that I do stuff with in town...  I don't want to
> > > hurt any feelings - especially after getting so frustrated and kinda
> > > bitchy (that was a year or so ago)
> > > and don't want any bad blood situations.
> > >
> > > I don't know - I don't know...
> > > It seems that this HS is a case of organizing a group for the sake of
> > > organizing a group.
> > > I think that organizing out of necessity or some other benefit of
> > > taking that step.
> > > I feel like this is more of "hey guys - look !  Hackerspaces!  What a
> > > nifty idea!  I want to have one around so that I'll actually be
> > > inspired to do something!  Let's make one so that we'll do something!"
> > > - but that comes from a group of people who all lack the motivation to
> > > do anything on their own.
> > >
> > > One of the great things about a hackerspace SEEMS to be mutual
> > > inspiration - it can be very motivating to work on projects together!
> > > But what if you have a dozen people that want to do nifty neat-o
> things
> > > but have little individual motivation -
> > > This is pretty much just a sociological experiment to prove that
> > > organizing a bunch of people together with little motivation proves to
> > > not synergize group motivation.  :(
> > > I just feel that it's a shame and it kind of hogs the place for a
> > > hackerspace in my locale - in fact I think it makes the entire concept
> > > of hackerspaces a joke in this area.
> > > Yeah, I know - harsh... but seriously true from people I've met and
> > > didn't know I had anything to do with ours.
> > >
> > > I actually pay dues again in hopes.
> > > There's one harbor freight 3$ meter here... a HF soldering iron with a
> > > messed up tip (they only last a day or so)... some jelly bean macs...
> > > and everyones garbage that they don't want to throw out but donate it
> > > to here so that it doesn't clutter their own house.
> > >
> > > I now rent a studio next door (10 months now) and have an open door
> > > policy to my equipment and resources.
> > > Thousands and tens of thousands of components - makerbot and repraps -
> > > large format printers(24") and plotter cutters(4 footer and 2 footer)
> -
> > > laptops galore - thousands of vintage vacuum tubes - every cable known
> > > to man (I personally love old 100pin cannon connectors) - tons of
> > > motors/servos/steppers from toy size to industrial 20 pounder servos
> > > left over from NASA - lots of aluminum stock/polycarb/acrylic/hardware
> > > - alpha/beta/gamma sources :) - 1st half of a CNC setup built - tons
> of
> > > professional design and graphics stuff (I owned a sign shop in the
> > > 90's) - an Xray machine from the 50's (actually everything from an old
> > > dental office) - robots and lasers (of course!) - lot's of scientific
> > > equipment - every tool known to man - 100's of different IC's (some
> > > hundreds of each - hell I have 10,000 7805's!!!) -  etc etc etc... I
> > > could go on and on - I have wide nerd-dom interests and have been
> > > around for almost 40 years.. .point is... resources are not an
> > > interest issue - and I make it all available for free... but only got
> > > a taker once for some 3mm old school green leds.  :(
> > >
> > > Again... Bitching and moaning here... and looking for advice and/or
> > > discussion to anyone interested in a positive and productive way (even
> > > if I sound pretty frustrated and giving off negative energy)
> > > I've visited other hackerspaces in the USA and wow... how I wish we
> had
> > > something like that here :(
> > >
> > > sincerely....
> > > anonymously supa dupa frustrated
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Discuss mailing list
> > > Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
> > > http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> > >
> > >
>
>
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